Sugar and Spice

And Everything Nice! That's what little girls are made of!!!
Madison is so happy to have another little girl in the family. We finally got to hold and cuddle Annabeth! She was so sweet....so tiny. I love to watch Madison with her. She loves babies and children, just like I always have. I hope she is blessed with her own one day as I have been. I can't imagine life without them.

Mud...Dirt...and Worms

We did a fun little food project today to go along with our study of the Earth's surface. While grocery shopping Friday, Madison and I found a kit to make dirt cups out of pudding, oreos, and gummy worms. I thought it would be great since we had been studying soil. We waited until the evening when Josh, our neighbor, could make the cups with us. Everyone participated in some way and had a great time. Of course, the best part was eating them.

Rocks

We've been studying rocks this week. Yesterday, we attempted to make a sandstone rock out of sand and salt. With the 100F plus temps that we have been having, I thought it would be a perfect time to sit our project outside to harden. As luck would have it, it has been cloudy and raining since we finished the project. We put it in the shed. Hopefully, it will be warm enough to harden the "rock" without the sun. We put a shell in the middle of the mixture so that after it hardens we can break it open to see the imprint that it made....great for learning about fossils. I hope it works! If not, we had a great time making it anyway!!!

Back to School

We started back with schooling yesterday. It felt really great to be back on a schedule. The kids were more excited about starting back than I thought they would be. We spent the morning doing book work and History. In the afternoon, we did Social Studies and Science. The kids enjoyed using crackers and water to demonstrate how water causes erosion. We looked at dirt and sand to compare what they are made up of and used peroxide to demonstrate how dirt has more decayed matter in it than sand, thus making it more fertile. I love the hands on and so do they!! I feel great about the day....it went well :).

Fun With Our Church Family

We had a great time with our church family this past Sunday. We had a hamburger cookout with LOTS of water fun for the kids. Yes, it was HOT out there, but the kids never knew it with all of the water! I enjoyed visiting with everyone and watching the kids run from place to place. We are so blessed to have found a home with this church!

The Many Faces of Jeff

I always knew what kind of man I wanted to spend my life with...the kind of man that I wanted to share the responsibility of raising children with. God blessed me beyond what I imagined when he gave Jeff to me.

He is such a fun person, while at the same time, serious about so many things. He makes us laugh...even when we don't feel like it. He doesn't form relationships quickly, but is sincere about the ones that he has. He is so real.

He loves to work on things, which is a trait that I have always admired...probably because my daddy was the same way. He keeps things in perspective for me when my mind is going too many directions. He loves music and I love to hear him play and sing. I especially love to watch him teach our children to enjoy music. http://www.bncministries.com/files/Cops-battle_w_.mp3

Jeff truely loves to be with his family, and we are so lucky to have him. I hope he knows that.....I pray that he does!

Welcome Little One!

We have been blessed with a new addition to our family. Jeff's brother and his wife had their 2nd baby yesterday....a girl. She is precious, of course, and so tiny. Our kids are so excited to get to know her. We are so blessed to be able to have another cousin for our kids and someone else to call us Aunt and Uncle. I thank God that she is here and healthy!!

Happy Birthday Josh

Our neighbor, Josh, turned 7 on Wed. The kids had an awesome time at his birthday party. His parents rented a huge water slide for the kids. They played on it for 3 hours at the party, then went back later to play some more until dark. We also played some fun water balloon games with them at the party followed by a silly string fight. It was a fun day!! Happy Birthday Josh!

Fragments From Yesterday

A pink bedroom...little twin beds
Bare feet on a dirt road
Clothespins on bike spokes
Mama crocheting in her chair

A swim in the pond
Loaded fishing poles
Saddles and horses
Wide open spaces

Little blue bikes.....little tiny kittens
A playhouse in the shed
Ponytails and cutoff shorts
Stuffed animals and dolls

A ride in the back of the truck
Down a dusty road
A bucket of berries fresh off the vine
Ketchup and mayo sandwiches

Peanut butter from the spoon
8 track tapes and 45's
Made up dances...made up clubs
Honeysuckles and gardenias

My daddy's love....unconditional
His hand helping me with my flips
His words of encouragement in everything
His strength His voice His presence

A Blanket on the ground
Teaparties with my twin
Cotton trailers and cotton fields
Board games and cards

Dreams of the future
Make-believe play
Dress-up clothes
Staying outside all day

Fragments of something solid and real
Stirred up and scattered as they fall
Can only be viewed as a whole
By the mind from which they are recalled

20 Things

To be Thankful For:

1. My family and all of the family surrounding us.
2. My salvation and how it changed the course of my life
3. Vicki...what a blessing it is to have a twin!
4. The opportunity to be home with my children and to homeschool them.
5. My college education and all of the memories I have of getting it.
6. Friends...those who are within reach and those who aren't.
7. Everyday needs that I am able to provide for my family and myself...never having to worry where they are coming from.
8. Jeff...he is so much more than I ever asked for or deserved.
9. Memories of my Mother...they can't give me what my heart desires, but they are more than some people have.
10. My health and the health of my family.

13. Our home. It is perfect for us and is surrounded by wonderful neighbors and family.
14. My country...may God bless it.
15. The simple things in life...like books and my ability to read and enjoy them....listening to Jeff play his guitar.
16. Our new church family.
17. Laughter and those who I laugh with and have laughed with.
18. Time....
19. Freedom...to do all of the things that make life so precious.
20. Contentment and Peace of Mind